RETREAT	277
while preparations were being made to pitch the tents. On
coming up with them we found no fewer than seven of the
animals sheltering under canvas against the sun. Many a
collapse there had been by the way, and matters looked none
too cheerful with only a third of the whole journey behind us
and our water seriously reduced. But we could not expect
miracles of the heavily laden animals in such conditions, and
it would be merely courting disaster to send them out again
to march in the heat of the afternoon. At the same time they
had to get on by hook or by crook, or perish in the wilderness.
We accordingly agreed that the only thing to do now was to
divide up into two sections and let the baggage-party march
all night and as far into the day as possible in an effort to get
to Naifa as soon as it could. The other section, reduced to
six persons including myself for there were only six camels
considered perfectly capable of bearing the strain involved,
would continue the former routine of a short march before
dawn followed by continuous marching till near sunset. 'Ali,
now recovered from his sulks, volunteered to accompany us
as guide—perhaps in order to retain his mount, which was the
best of the whole company; Zayid remained faithful to me,
and Salih and Humaid completed the little party with Sa'dan.
Everything was thus satisfactorily arranged and I went off
late in the afternoon to explore the valley in which we were
encamped. At no great distance I came upon a series of
exposed calcareous cliffs, about 15 feet high, lying up
against and half buried by the lofty sand ridge forming one
side of the valley. A number of the familiar little spiral sheik
was all that rewarded a diligent search of the bare ground at
the base of the cliffs, from which I collected an assortment of
rock samples. The short walk had almost exhausted me and
I wondered vaguely whether I could get back to camp. I
wb& once more desperately hungry—my whole body seemed
to be clamouring for food but I knew that a good meal of rice
was preparing against my return to give the Bew arrange-
ments & good Htart. I made no attempt to respond to the call
to prayer at sunset and sprawled weakly on the sand de-
vouring « couple of raw onions, which I bow generally carried
in my pocket with a few peppermint tablets against such &